Tsze-hsia asked,saying,"What is the meaning of the passage-'The pretty dimples of her artful smile!The well-defined black and white of her eye!The plain ground for the colors?"" The Master said,"The business of laying on the colors follows the preparation of the plain ground.” "Ceremonies then are a subsequent thing?"The Master said,"It is Shang who can bring out my meaning.Now I can begin to talk about the odes with him." The Master said,"I could describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty,but Chi cannot sufficiently attest my words.I could describe the ceremonies of the Yin dynasty,but Sung cannot sufficiently attest my words.They cannot do so because of the insufficiency of their records and wise men.If those were sufficient,I could adduce them in support of my words." The Master said,"At the great sacrifice,after the pouring out of the libation,I have no wish to look on." Some one asked the meaning of the great sacrifice.The Master said,"I do not know.He who knew its meaning would find it as easy to govern the kingdom as to look on this"-pointing to his palm. He sacrificed to the dead,as if they were present.He sacrificed to the spirits, as if the spirits were present. The Master said,"I consider my not being present at the sacrifice,as if I did not sacrifice.” Wang-sun Chia asked,saying,"What is the meaning of the saying,'It is better to pay court to the furnace then to the southwest corner?" The Master said,"Not so.He who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray.”Tsze-hsia asked, saying, “What is the meaning of the passage-’The pretty dimples of her artful smile! The well-defined black and white of her eye! The plain ground for the colors?’” The Master said, “The business of laying on the colors follows the preparation of the plain ground.” “Ceremonies then are a subsequent thing?” The Master said, “It is Shang who can bring out my meaning. Now I can begin to talk about the odes with him.” The Master said, “I could describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty, but Chi cannot sufficiently attest my words. I could describe the ceremonies of the Yin dynasty, but Sung cannot sufficiently attest my words. They cannot do so because of the insufficiency of their records and wise men. If those were sufficient, I could adduce them in support of my words.” The Master said, “At the great sacrifice, after the pouring out of the libation, I have no wish to look on.” Some one asked the meaning of the great sacrifice. The Master said, “I do not know. He who knew its meaning would find it as easy to govern the kingdom as to look on this”-pointing to his palm. He sacrificed to the dead, as if they were present. He sacrificed to the spirits, as if the spirits were present. The Master said, “I consider my not being present at the sacrifice, as if I did not sacrifice.” Wang-sun Chia asked, saying, “What is the meaning of the saying, ‘It is better to pay court to the furnace then to the southwest corner?’” The Master said, “Not so. He who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray